Nepal Rastra Bank

Assistant Director(Officer Third)

Information and Communication Technology

Gyaneshwar Bohara
Syllabus

Introduction to Computer and OS | BoharaG 2

Old Question- 2066

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Old Question- 2067

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Old Question- 2068

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Old Question- 2070

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Old Question- 2073

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Old Question- 2074

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Old Question- 2074

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1. Introduction to Computer Basics and
Information Technology

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 What are computers?
• Computers are electronic devices that can follow instructions to accept
input, process the input and then produce information.

• Characteristics of Computers
• Store a large amount of data and information for a long period of time.
• Process data and information in high accuracy level .
• Speed in processing data information.
• Sharing of information / network.

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BLOCK DIAGRAM OF COMPUTER

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 INPUT UNIT
• Computers need to receive data and instruction in order to solve any
problem. Therefore we need to input the data and instructions into the
computers. The input unit consists of one or more input devices.

• Keyboard is the one of the most commonly used input device. Other
commonly used input devices are the mouse, floppy disk drive, magnetic
tape, etc.

• All the input devices perform the following functions.

o Accept the data and instructions from the outside world.
o Convert it to a form that the computer can understand.
o Supply the converted data to the computer system for further processing.
 Storage Unit
• The storage unit of the computer holds data and instructions that are
entered through the input unit, before they are processed.
• It preserves the intermediate and final results before these are sent to
the output devices.
• It also saves the data for the later use.
• The various storage devices of a computer system are divided into two
categories:

1. Primary Storage: Stores and provides very fast.

• This memory is generally used to hold the program being currently executed in the
computer, the data being received from the input unit, the intermediate and final
results of the program.
• The primary memory is temporary in nature. The data is lost, when the computer is
switched off. Introduction to Computer and OS | BoharaG 14
 Storage Unit
• In order to store the data permanently, the data has to be transferred to the
secondary memory.
• The cost of the primary storage is more compared to the secondary storage.
• Therefore most computers have limited primary storage capacity.
2. Secondary Storage:
• Secondary storage is used like an archive.
• It stores several programs, documents, data bases etc.
• The programs that you run on the computer are first transferred to the primary memory
before it is actually run.
• Whenever the results are saved, again they get stored in the secondary memory.
• The secondary memory is slower and cheaper than the primary memory.
• Some of the commonly used secondary memory devices are Hard disk, CD, etc.,

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 Output Unit
• The output unit of a computer provides the information and results of a
computation to outside world.
• Printers, Visual Display Unit (VDU) are the commonly used output devices.
• Other commonly used output devices are
o floppy disk drive,
o hard disk drive,
o magnetic tape drive.

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 Arithmetic Logical Unit

• All calculations are performed in the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) of the
computer.
• It also does comparison and takes decision.
• The ALU can perform basic operations such as addition, subtraction,
multiplication, division, etc and does logic operations like, >, <, =, ‘etc.
• Whenever calculations are required, the control unit transfers the data from
storage unit to ALU, once the computations are done, the results are transferred
to the storage unit by the control unit and then it is sent to the output unit for
displaying results.

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 Control Unit

• It controls all other units in the computer.

• The control unit instructs the input unit, where to store the data after receiving
it from the user.
• It controls the flow of data and instructions from the storage unit to ALU.
• It also controls the flow of results from the ALU to the storage unit.
• The control unit is generally referred as the central nervous system of the
computer that control and synchronizes its working.

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 Central Processing Unit
• The control unit and ALU of the computer are together known as the Central
Processing Unit (CPU).

• The CPU is like brain performs the following functions:

• It performs all calculations.
• It takes all decisions.
• It controls all units of the computer.

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 Types of Computers
1. Microcomputers 2. Minicomputers

3. Mainframe computers 4. Supercomputers

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 Microcomputers
• Microcomputer =>Personal Computer => PC
• There are 3 types of the Microcomputers :
1.Laptop
2.Desktop
3.Workstation
• Personal Computer:
• A small, single-user computer based on a microprocessor.
• Are smaller and less powerful than the others. They are used in homes, schools,
and small businesses.
• Workstation:
• A powerful, single-user computer. A workstation is like a personal computer, but it has :
➢ a more powerful microprocessor and,
➢ in general, a higher-quality monitor.
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 Minicomputers

• Desk-sized
• More processing speed and storage capacity than
microcomputers
• General data processing needs at small companies
• Larger companies use them for specific purposes
• They are used by business and government to
process large amounts of information.

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Mainframe Computers

• Larger machines with special wiring

and environmental controls
• Faster processing and greater storage
than minicomputers
• Typical machine in large organizations
• Are used by government and
businesses to process very large
amounts of information

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 Supercomputers
• The most powerful of the four categories
• Used by very large organizations, particularly for very math-intensive
types of tasks
• Are used to process very large amounts of information including
processing information to predict hurricanes, satellite images and
navigation, and process military war scenarios.

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Supercomputers

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 Parts of a Computer
• Computers are made of
o HARDWARE
o SOFTWARE
• HARDWARE
o The parts of computer itself (tangible objects ) including :
• CPU (or Processor) and Primary memory (or Main Memory)
• Input devices i.e the keyboard and mouse
• Output devices
• Storage devices

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 Parts of a Computer
❑SOFTWARE
o The instructions that tell the computer what to do
• Application Software - helps end-users perform general purpose tasks
• System Software - enables application software to interact with the computer
o Application Software – Basic Tools
Word processors– example: Microsoft word
Spreadsheets-- example: Microsoft Excel
Database managers-- example: Microsoft Access
Graphics-- example: Photoshop
o System Software
• The software that controls everything that happens in a computer.
• Background software, manages the computer’s internal resources.
Resources examples : CPU, RAM , I/O devices, …
• The most important System Software is the Operating System
Examples of operating systems: Windows XP, DOS, Apple, UNIX
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 Operating System Software
❑Directs all the activities and sets all the rules for how the hardware
and software will work together.
❑Examples would be:
DOS, Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, XP, Vista, Windows 7/8/10
Unix, Linux,
MAC system OS 6,7,8,9,10

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 Command Line Operating Systems

❑DOS is an example of a command line operating system

❑There are no:
• Icons (pictures)
• Mouse Pointer
• Buttons
• You have to memorize commands in order to use this text based operating system.

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Operating Systems: GUI(Graphical User Interface)

• Uses pictures (icons) to represent files, folders, disk drives, modems, printers,
etc.
• GUI’s were created to make using a computer easier, more interesting, non-
threatening to inexperienced users.
• A mouse allows users to point at something and click to make it work. With
command line you have to have all of the commands to make your
programs work.

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An Introduction to
Operating Systems
 Definition
• An Operating System, or OS, is low-level software that
enables a user and higher-level application software to
interact with a computer’s hardware and the data and
other programs stored on the computer.
• An OS performs basic tasks, such as recognizing input
from the keyboard, sending output to the display screen,
keeping track of files and directories on the disk, and
controlling peripheral devices such as printers.

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 Other Services
• Program Execution
o OS provides an environment where the user can conveniently run programs.
o The user does not have to worry about memory allocation or CPU scheduling.

• I/O Operations
o Each program requires input and produces output.
o The OS hides some of the details of the underlying hardware for such I/O.
o All the user sees is that the I/O has been performed, without those details.

• Communications
o There are instances where processes need to communicate with each other to exchange
information.
o It may be between processes running on the same computer or running on different computers.
o The OS provides these services to application programs, making inter-process communication
possible, and relieving the user of having to worry about how this accomplished.

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 Operating Systems
What are the functions of an operating system?
start the provide a user manage
computer interface programs

administer
security
manage
memory

control a
network

establish an schedule jobs

monitor
Internet and configure
provide file performance
connection devices
management
and other
utilitiesIntroduction to Computer and OS | BoharaG 34
 Types of Operating Systems
• Within the broad family of operating systems, there are generally four
types, categorized based on the types of computers they control and the
sort of applications they support. The categories are:

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 Real-time Operating System (RTOS)
• RTOS are used to control machinery, scientific instruments
and industrial systems.

• An RTOS typically has very little user-interface capability,

and no end-user utilities, since the system will be a "sealed
box" when delivered for use.

• A very important part of an RTOS is managing the

resources of the computer so that a particular operation
executes in precisely the same amount of time, every time
it occurs.

• In a complex machine, having a part move more quickly just

because system resources are available may be just as
catastrophic as having it not move at all because the
system is busy.
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 Single-user,
Example of Single User, Singlesingle
Task task

• As the name implies, this

operating system is designed
to manage the computer so that
one user can effectively do one
thing at a time.

• The Palm OS for Palm

handheld computers is a good
example of a modern single-
user, single-task operating
system.
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 Single User, multi Tasking
• This is the type of operating system
most people use on their desktop and
laptop computers today.

• Microsoft's Windows and Apple's MacOS

platforms are both examples of OS that
will let a single user have several programs
in operation at the same time.

• For example, it's entirely possible for a

Windows user to be writing a note in a
word processor while downloading a file
from the Internet while printing the text of
an e-mail message.

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• Examples of Multi-user Multi User
• A multi-user operating system allows
many different users to take advantage
of the computer's resources
simultaneously.

• The operating system must make sure that the

requirements of the various users are
balanced, and that each of the programs they
are using has sufficient and separate
resources so that a problem with one user
doesn't affect the entire community of users.

• Unix, VMS and mainframe operating

systems, are examples of multi-user
operating systems. Introduction to Computer and OS | BoharaG 39
UNIX
➢ UNIX was one of the first operating systems to be
written, in 1971.

➢ Advantages of UNIX are…

▪ Multitasking – multiple programs can run at one

time.

▪ Multi-user – allows more than a single user to

work at any given time. This is accomplished by
sharing processing time between each user.

▪ Safe – prevents one program from accessing

memory or storage space allocated to another
program, and enables file protection, requiring
users to have permission to perform certain
functions, such as accessing a directory, file, or
disk drive.
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Windows Operating System
Evolution of Windows
• Windows 3.1
• First widely used successful version of Windows
• Replaced MS-DOS
• Windows 95
• Introduced Start button, taskbar for multitasking, and My Computer for easier
file management
• Windows NT
• Intended for business computing
• Increased reliability and security

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Evolution of Windows (Continued)
• Windows 98
• Active desktop displays Web content
• Enables Web conventions on the desktop
• Windows 2000
• Security of NT with Windows 98 Interface
• Windows 2000 Professional and Windows 2000 Server
• Windows Me (Millennium Edition)
• Successor to Windows 98 for home computing

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Windows(Older Versions)

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New Features

• Start Menu
• One Windows for all devices
• Cortana
• New Native Apps and Apps Store
• Microsoft Edge Browser
• Improved Multitasking
• Snap assist
• universal apps can be windowed
• Action Center
• Continuum
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 Start Menu

• when click on the Start button at

the bottom left of the screen, you
get two panels side by side, with
the left column showing pinned,
recently added and most-used
apps.

• The right column features a selection of live tiles that you can
customize, resize and reorganize.

• We can have the Start Menu expand to full screen whenever we want.

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 One Window for all Devices

• Microsoft is using Windows

10 to attempt to unify its
various software platforms
across different devices under
one Windows brand.

• Windows 10 is meant to unify desktop PCs, Windows tablets

and Windows smartphones with one interface, one way of operating
and one account.

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 Cortana

• Windows 10 will bring

Microsoft’s voice-controlled
digital assistant Cortana, to
make it easier for you to interact
with your device without lifting
a finger.

• We will be able to search your hard drive for specific folders and files.

• Cortana is able to send emails while you’re working on a spreadsheet,

making multi-tasking much easier.
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 Xbox App

• You will soon be able to play any

Xbox One game on your PC or
tablet, with the Xbox app for
windows 10.

• The new operating system will support Xbox game streaming, with
improved speed and graphics performance by DirectX 12 support.

• The app also lets you to record, edit and share your activities in the game.

• You’ll also be able to join your friends and see your friends’ activity via
Xbox.
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 Edge Browser

• Internet Explorer will co-exist

with the Microsoft Edge
Browser

• New features include PDF support, a reading mode that improves the layout
of long articles, and a new note taking feature.

• Edge lets you scribble on any page and share your comments with your friends
through social networks.

• Edge Browser will feature Cortana support within the browser, so she can pull
contextual information from the sites
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 Improved Multi Tasking

• A new Multiple Desktops

feature lets you run another
set of windows as if on
another screen.

• Instead of having multiple windows open on top of each other on one

desktop, you can set up a whole other virtual desktop for those
programs to reside in.

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Snap Assist

• Microsoft also updated its Snap View multitasking feature to let

you windows to the four corners of your screen.

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Universal apps can be Windowed

• Universal apps, which previously only operated in full-screen mode,

can now be used in traditional windows on the desktop.

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 Action Settings

• Windows 10 will provide a

new way to look at all your
notifications in one place.

• It collects alerts from your device from all your apps, similar to the
notifications drawers like in our smartphones.

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 Continuum

• With the rise of hybrid laptop-

tablet devices, Microsoft
wants to make it easier to
switch between either
mode.

• If you remove the keyboard/mouse, a notification will pop up from the task
bar at the bottom, asking if you want to activate Tablet mode.

• Place your tablet into the keyboard again, and you’ll receive the same prompt,
this time asking if you want to exit Tablet mode.

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 Linux
vs.
Windows
Linux
• Linux was originally built by Linus Torvalds at the University of
Helsinki in 1991.
• Linux is a Unix-like, Kernal-based, fully memory-protected,
multitasking operating system
• It runs on a wide range of hardware from PCs to Macs.

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Windows
• First version of Windows – Windows 3.1 released in 1992 by
Microsoft.
• Windows is a GUI based operating system
• It has powerful networking capabilities, is multitasking, and extremely
user friendly

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Computer Users
• Many beginner users find Windows easer to use than other operating
systems
• Windows has been enjoying an overall advantage over Linux due to
Microsoft’s market success because of its broad focus aimed at all
kinds of users
• Linux has been primary used by advanced computer users –
programmers and developers

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Fundamental Difference between Linux &
Windows
One fundamental difference between the two systems is the fact that
Linux is "open source".

This means that unlike Windows where you only get access to the
compiled programs that you run on your machine, with Linux you also
get the original computer code to examine and tweak (modify) at
your leisure.

This also goes to show that Linux users are more advanced

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Comparing Applications
• Linux falls short in the number of different applications available for
it.
• There are much more various applications available for Microsoft
since the population of Window’s users is greater than Linux’s
• Since Microsoft is more popular, the Hardware products are aimed at
the biggest market – Windows, such that the product would be sold
and used widely

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Comparing Applications Cont.
• Linux programs are distributed freely since they are not developed by commercial
software companies, but instead are created under the GNU Public License,
which makes the software free

• Linux software lacks the GUI and is therefore not “liked” by many users

• Windows has its own share of problems – the fact that some software is not
compliant for different versions of windows (i.e. Windows 95/98) and that many
times the GUI concept is overused such that command arguments cannot be
passed to the program

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Comparing GUI
• Linux contains X-Windows with 2 interfaces – GTK & KDE
• Linux offers a choice of four desktops thus allowing the user to work
in different windows on different desktop for convenience

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Comparing GUI Cont.
• Windows, on the other hand, is limited to the way the application
windows are laid out on the screen
• Windows GUI also has been known for its large memory
requirements, where it usually uses a huge chunk of RAM for visual
components

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Security
• Linux seems to be more prepared for protecting itself because of the beginning
developments of Linux, UNIX, and FreeBSD which were aimed at top notch
security
• Linux does not allow to create registry keys in a way Windows does allowing a
user to browse installed components registry keys, which contain important
information
• Linux is more virus proof since viruses – malicious programs either cannot be run
automatically on the Linux machine, or simply are not capable of being executed
on a 386 architecture
• Windows is often known for a large amount of loop holes

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Reliability
• OS it must not crash, even under extreme loads. OS should process
requests even if the operating system or hardware fails
• Windows seems to be less stable even though the latest versions of
Windows are far more improved than the incredibly buggy Windows

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Conclusion
• Not enough test benchmarks for Linux to compare it to Windows
• Linux technology is used wider ( example php scripts ), and software
is ported to Linux more often.
• User should be comfortable with the OS

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 Questions

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